Combination extension table with folding top



sept. s, 1953 M. WURM 2,651,555

COMBINATION EXTENSION TABLE WITH FOLDING TOP Slept. 8, 1953 M. wURM 2,651,555

COMBINATION EXTENSION TABLE WITH FOLDING T-OP 7 INVEN TOR.

/mx wwe/n MMML Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION EXTENSION TABLE WITH FOLDING TOP 1 Claim. 1 This invention relates to tables and has for its principal object to provide a new and improved construction of an extensible table that can be used as a dining table when fully extended and, when fully collapsed, is of such small dimensions and attractive appearance as to serve as what is commonly known as an occasional table.

As the trend in home building in recent years has been towards the wide-spread adoption of a combined living and dining room, extensible dining room tables as heretofore constructed do not lend themselves readily for use in a room of the aforementioned character which is used the greater part of the time as a living room and perhaps only occasionally as a dining room, because all of the extensible dining room tables as heretofore constructed, when collapsed, are still obviously dining room tables and even in their collapsed form take up so much space that it is unsatisfactory to attempt to use one of them as a unit in any desirable or attractive scheme of a furniture arrangement for living room quarters. Moreover, the size, proportions and shapes of these prior art extensible dining room tables in their collapsed condition are such as to make them, if not lacking in decorative appeal, en-

tirely unsuitable for use as a part of a harmonious or attractive interior decorative plan for a living room.

Another objection to these extensible dining tables is that most of them as heretofore commercially manufactured employ loose leaves that have to be removed when the table is collapsed and either stored away in a closet or in some other out-of-the-way place when not in use and then brought out and reinserted one by one for use when the table is to be extended. such operations being not only time consuming but cornparatively diiicult. Moreover, the separate leaves frequently become so badly warped as to be unusable, particularly when, as is o-ften the case, an upstairs closet is not conveniently available and the leaves must be stored awat7 in a damp basement or a hot attic storage space.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction for a combination extension table with a folding top that will enable the table to be extended to form a substantial size dining room table capable of comfortably seating eight or ten persons, yet which, when collapsed, forms a comparatively slender rectangular table having a size comparable to tables commonly known as console or occasional tables.

The specific embodiment of the table selected for illustration of the present invention is one.

K briefly stated, wherein the table may be extended to form a substantial size dining room table capable of comfortably seating eight or ten persons 'but which, when collapsed, forms a comparatively slender rectangular table having a size comparable with that of what is commonly known as an occasional table and which will be of such pleasing and attractive appearance as will not clash but will harmonize with and add materially to the decorative scheme of living room quarters. This is accomplished in the present invention by employing a sectional top, the members or leaves of which are so connected together in hinged relationship not only to permit but to constrain the folding action of the hinged leaves so that they fold one upon the other in what might be termed a Z-shaped formation, the ta'ble preferably being Vprovided with the extensible supports or slides, as they are termed in the art, for supporting the sections of the extensible top when the table is extended and which slides, when the table is collapsed, are completely hidden below the top and within the side rails of the table. By employing a hinged sectional top, as above briey described, it is not only unnecessary to use detachable leaves, such as are ordinarily employed with the standard type of extensible dining room table, but the operation of converting the table from its collapsed occasional table form to an extended dining table or vice versa is a very simple and speedy procedure as compared with the series of operations above referred to required with the extensible dining tables as heretofore constructed.

Although I am aware that it is not broadly new to employ a sectional hinged folding top for an extension table, none of the prior art suggestions heretofore made for extension tables of this type has ever gone into commercial production apparently because such suggestions have not been commercially feasible or practical since,A despite their higher manufacturing costs as compared with the table of the present invention, they not only lack aesthetic appeal but are also lacking in the required sturdiness and stability for use in the extended condition. They also lack the structural durability and hence longevity of service demanded by discriminating potential purchasers and such as achieved by the table of the present invention.

It is, therefore, another principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved construction for an extension table of the type hereinbefore set forth in which the constituent parts are so constructed and arranged as to reduce to the fullest possible extent nonessential manufacturing operations and thus minimize production costs.

A further object is to providea new and improved extension-table construction of much greater sturdiness and stability when in extended condition than could be achieved by the prior art structures.

As aesthetic or ornamental considerations are of prime importance, another object of the present invention is to employ certain constituent parts of the improved structure which, while con,- tributing to its pleasing, ornamental and attractive appearance, both in its extended as well as in its collapsed condition, also serve as structural reinforcements to impart to it the sturdiness and stability and simultaneously prevent objectionable and destructive warping of the table leaves.

The` above and other objects of the present Y invention will appear more fully from the following incre detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a highly practical and satisfactory embodiment of a table. constructed in accordance with. the` principles of my invention.

shown in the drawings, Fig, l is an inverted plan view ot a` tablel constructed according to the, present inventipn;

Fig.- 2 isA a longitudinal center section taken Qnthe line 2,-2 0f; Fis- 1.:

Fig. 3J is a transverse cross section taken on the line 3 -.3u of Fig. l, showing the table in collapsed condition with thel top sections thereof in nested position in` the condition in which they `will be plalied when the table isV used as an occasional 1 is aside elevation showing the top secthe table in partially collapsed condiion;

. Fig. is a side elevation showing the end sections of the table in fully extendedV position with the top section, thereof partially extended; and

Figli is; av top view of the table in fully extended posities.

showninthe drawings, the table consists of a pair of sections indicated generally by the numerals IU and II. These end sections are of similar construction and comprise the end rails lf2. @ed l@ with half. Side rails I4 and l5. and 20 and 2|. Supporting legs I6 and I1 are suitably secured at the junctureof end rail I3 and side rail I5 end; rail l2 and side rail I4, respectively, in any satisfactory manner in accordance with of the-wellfknown practices in the furniture manufacturing industry. Similar end legs I8 and I8 are., secured at the juncture of the end rail I3 and side rail section 2l)V and the end rail I2 and side. rail section 2;,I at the other two corners. Housed under the sectional top of the table, hereinafter to be more, fully described, and the enclosures formed by the end rails I2, I3 and the sidev rail sections I4, I5, 2-0 and 2 IV are a plurality of conventional extensible table top supporting slides 22%.

As a reduction of manufacturing costs in the highly competitive furniture industry is of primary importance, I' employ a pair of conventional extensible table top supporting slides 22 forconnecting the two end sections I0, II of the supporting base together for horizontal sliding movement. These` conventional slides, as the expression is used hereinand in the furniture industry, are manufactured in huge quantities by high-speed massproduction methods and hence may be purchased at remarkably lowv prices. They consist of a plurality of similar slide members connected togethern by longitudinal dovetals as shown best in Fig. 2 for horizontal sliding il movement from a collapsedA position as shown Fig. 1 to an extended position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6; and, when extended as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the top surface .of each of the conventional slides forms a sturdy comparatively rigid uninterrupted table top supporting surface. The pair of members 22a. at one end of said slides, when extended as shown in Fig. 6, is secured to the bottom face of leaf 21, while the pair of members 22o at the other end lof said slides is secured'I to. the half-side members l5 and 20 by any suitable means such, for example, as the pins or dowels 22o. The dovetailed interengagement of' the members which comprise the slides 22, as shown in Fig. 2 of the, drawings, constrains the end section IIJ of the supporting base for horizontal sliding movement when said end section V Il! is moved to and from extended to collapsed condition or vice versa. Connected to the cen tral member of each slide 22, as by screws 23, is a bridge 24 to the under surface of which is suitably secured, preferably, a pair of central bracing legs 25, 26, adapted to support the slides and the table top when the table is in fully extended condition; although it is possible when the best grades of slides are used to employ but a single central bracing leg.

The table top consists of a plurality of preferably oblong shaped sections or leaves 21, 2S and 29, Each of the leaves 21 and 28 is of substantially the same size and substantially equal to, the rectangular area defined by the end rail sections I2, I3 and the side rail sections I4., I5, 20 and 2l when the table is collapsed, while the top leaf 29 is of slightly larger area for a purpose presently to be described.

As will be readily understood, the, lowermost leaf 21 of the table top has only one-half thereof rigidly secured to that half of the table defined by the end rail I2 and the side rails |54 and 2l. The other half of the top section 21 extends over but is unsecured to the remaining half of thetable defined by the end rail I3 and; the side rail sections I5 and 20 when'the table is its collapsed condition, as shown in Figs. 3 and- 4 of the drawin s.

llhat may be termed the inner edgefof the leaf 21 has hingedly connected thereto by so-called invisible hinges 3B the adjacent` endof the. center leaf 28. Hingedly connected tothe other edge of leaf 28, preferably as, by stranhnses. 3l, is the inner end of leaf 29.

As the leaf 29 serves as theV decorative top for the table when collapsed for use as an occasional table, the outermost or front-.side edge of this leaf, as well as the end edges thereofare preferably provided with depending flange members 33, 33a which serve to reinforce and prevent warping of the top leafv and to mask the parting line between the top sections 21, 2'8', and- 29, when the tablek is in its collapsed condition.

The manner inv which the table is used, as will be readily apparent to those slrilledv in the art, is that when it is desired' to extend the table the extensible end section I0 of the supporting b ase comprising the end. rail I3 and' side rail sections I5 and 20, together with the legsl I6 and ISB, is pulled outwardly by grasping. theV endrail I3 from the other or stationary end. section. Il), asindicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. When this is done, the connections 22e will. cause the supporting slides 22 to move out to their extended' positions, as indicatedA in Fig. 5v and, in accordance with the usualV construction ofextensible din-ing tables, the bridge member 24, together with the central bracing legs 25 and 26, will also be moved outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 5. The top leaf 29 of the sectional table top is then lifted upwardly into a Z form, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and is pulled upwardly and outwardly until the entire top section is fully extended, after which it is lowered down over the extended supporting base into a position such as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

When it is desired to collapse the table, the reverse of the foregoing operation is performed, as will be readily understood, the top table sections being lifted and folded backwardly and downwardly into a Z form until they occupy the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the extensible supporting part of the base being collapsed from the position shown in Fig. to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4,

A. pair of ordinary strap-type hinges 3| can be employed for connecting the top leaves 28 and 29 together because of the fact that when the top is extended such hinges will lie entirely on the underside of the t-op and will therefore be entirely concealed.

When the top is in its folded or collapsed position, the hinge straps will lie between and be concealed by the leaves 28, 29, as shown in Fig. 3, a pair of rubber or felt pads 32 being secured to the central top leaf 28, as shown in Fig. 3 to hold the end leaf 2 9 substantially level when the leaves are folded in superimposed relationship.

A strap-type hinge, however, could not be satisfactorily employed for the hinged connection between the leaves 21, 28 because the hinge straps would lie on the upper exposed faces of said leaves when the top is extended; hence, the hinges 30 used for this connection are of the so-called invisible type, the connections of which to the table leaves are made within rabbets 30a so cut into the side edges of said leaves that when the top is extended the hinges are completely concealed and the top faces of the table leaves form a smooth plane surface free of gaps or objectionable protruding obstructions.

It will be noted that the hinge connection formed by the strap hinges 3| between the side edges of the top leaf 29 and the one side edge of the center leaf 28 is such that the movement of the top leaf 29 from the extended position to the folded position is constrained to rotational movement in one direction, while the hinge connection of the invisible hinges 30 between the other side edge of leaf 28 and the adiacent edge of leaf 21 is such as to constrain the folding movement of the leaf 28 to rotation in a direction opposite to that of the leaf 29; hence, in moving the leaves from extended to folded position, they are caused to assume a Z-shaped relationship when folded.

As will be seen from the foregoing, the table of the present invention is characterized by the provision of an extensible supporting base consisting of the two similar and symmetrical end sections l0 and Il, each of which comprises an end rail, a pair of side rail sections rigidly connected to said end rail, a pair of main legs rigidly attached thereto preferably at the junctions of each end rail with the adjacent side rail sections and also the members at each end of the extensible top supporting slides, the construction being such that each similar end section with its end rail and side rail sections and its pair of main supporting legs forms a sturdy, rigid unit which cooperates with the slides when the table is extended to prevent objectionable wobbling and each of which also complements the other when the table is collapsed to form an attractive, ornamental but conventional type console table, occasional table, card table or lamp table, yet which, when extended to form a dining table, will still present an ornamental, attractive appearance with all four corner legs as well as the central leg being of attractive, ornamental and symmetrical size and shape. It is within the purview of my invention to employ my folding sectional top with a pair of cabinet sections of any suitable form or design, which when collapsed would be arranged back to back and be provided with conventional extensible supportingtable top slides for bridging the space between them when extended and serving tosupport the unfolded and extended table top.

It will further be understood that, while I have shown my invention as embodied in a table top having three leaves, the invention is equally applicable to a table top comprised of nve, seven or any other odd number of leaves within practical limits.

I claim:

A combination extension table having an extensible supporting base movable from a collapsed to an extended position having four identical main legs and comprising a pair of similar complementary end sections, to each of which a pair of said main legs are rigidly mounted in symmetrical relationship, a pair of conventional table slides each having a plane uninterrupted top surface connecting said end sections for horizontal sliding movement to and from each other, and a sectional folding top mounted on said base consisting of a bottom leaf rigidly secured to one of said end sections and a top leaf and an intermediate leaf unsecured to said base, each of said leaves being of an area substantially equal to the area of said base when the latter is collapsed, hinge means for connecting said leaves for superimposed folded relationship upon said supporting base when the latter is collapsed to form therewith an ornamental occasional table or in an extended position to be supported by said slides when said base is extended to form a dining table with each of said leaves in contacting engagement along their entire width with the top surface of said slides, said hinge means having no portions projecting above the top surface of said leaves when the latter are extended and said top leaf having a depending flange secured to its lower face along the front and two side edges thereof only to mask the parting line between said top and intermediate leaves when said top is folded and serving to brace said top leaf and prevent warping thereof.

MAX WURM.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 500,440 Stebbins June 27, 1893 527,077 Rollings Oct. 9, 1894 531,010 Sigafoos Dec. 18, 1894 543,794 ZalikoWsk July 30, 1895 1,167,905 Kreczkowski Jan. 11, 1916 1,413,111 Fricker Apr. 18, 1922 1,694,283 Reid Dec. 4, 1928 2,153,262 McFall Apr. 21, 1939 2,556,943 Reisman June 12, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 491,602 Great Britain Sept. 6, 1938 

